Images from self-occlusion

Abstract

A method for generating a self-occlusion surface for an image. The method includes receiving the image, receiving a selection of a material with which to construct the self-occlusion surface, and receiving calibration data associated with the material. A plurality of pits is determined, based on the image and calibration data, to define within the self-occlusion surface. A preview of the self-occlusion surface is rendered based on the plurality of pits and the material.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method for generating a preview of a self-occlusion surface from an image, the method comprising:
 receiving the image; 
 receiving a selection of a material with which to construct the self-occlusion surface; 
 receiving calibration data associated with the material; 
 determining, based on the image and the calibration data, a plurality of pits to define within the self-occlusion surface to visually represent the image, wherein each pit in the plurality of pits is associated with a placement and depth; and 
 based on the determined plurality of pits, rendering the preview of the self-occlusion surface including the plurality of pits defined in the material. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising fabricating the self-occlusion surface based on the preview which has been rendered and using a physical material corresponding to the selected material. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the self-occlusion surface is fabricated via a three-dimensional (3D) printer. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the self-occlusion surface is fabricated via a computer numerical controlled (CNC) milling machine. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the self-occlusion surface is a non-planar surface. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 2 , wherein each pit in the plurality of pits does not extend through the physical material. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calibration data associated with the material is obtained by establishing, in a sample of the material, a plurality of calibration pits, each of which having a different depth, capturing an image of the material, and mapping the image to the calibration pits and an area of the self-occlusion surface that does not include a calibration pit. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the calibration data is computationally expanded to include data associated with one or more pits that are not established in the sample of the material. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each pit in the plurality of pits does not intersect any other pit in the plurality of pits. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pits is distributed across the self-occlusion surface in a non-uniform pattern. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the self-occlusion surface is fabricated based on the rendered preview and using a physical material corresponding to the selected material, wherein each pit of the plurality of pits comprises an empty space disposed within the physical material and formed by an inner wall extending from an opening at an exterior surface of the physical material to a closed end opposite the opening. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each pit of the plurality of pits is free from light being exchanged with other pits of the plurality of pits, wherein the image does not explicitly specify the placement of each individual pit of the plurality of pits, wherein the image does not explicitly specify the depth of each individual pit of the plurality of pits, wherein each pit in the plurality of pits in the preview has a depth that does not exceed the depth of the self-occlusion surface, wherein the placement and depth of each pit of the plurality of pits is fixed, wherein the placement and the depth of each pit is programmatically determined without requiring any user input explicitly specifying the placement and the depth of the respective pit. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the self-occlusion surface is fabricated based on the rendered preview and using a physical material corresponding to the selected material, wherein the physical material comprises a plurality of layers, wherein each layer of the plurality of layer includes a differently-colored physical material. 
     
     
       14. A computer system, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computer system to generate a preview of a self-occlusion surface from an image, by performing the steps of:
 receiving the image; 
 receiving a selection of a material with which to construct the self-occlusion surface; 
 receiving calibration data associated with the material; 
 determining, based on the image and calibration data, a plurality of pits to define within the self-occlusion surface to visually represent the image, wherein each pit in the plurality of pits is associated with a placement and depth; and 
 based on the determined plurality of pits, rendering the preview of the self-occlusion surface including the plurality of pits defined in the material and using a physical material corresponding to the selected material. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The computer system of  claim 14 , wherein the steps further include fabricating the self-occlusion surface based on the preview which has been rendered and using the physical material. 
     
     
       16. The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the self-occlusion surface is fabricated via a three-dimensional (3D) printer. 
     
     
       17. The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the self-occlusion surface is fabricated via a computer numerical controlled (CNC) milling machine. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the self-occlusion surface is a non-planar surface. 
     
     
       19. The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein each pit in the plurality of pits does not extend through the physical material. 
     
     
       20. The computer system of  claim 14 , wherein the calibration data associated with the material is obtained by establishing, in a sample of the material, a plurality of calibration pits, each of which having a different depth, capturing an image of the material, and mapping the image to the calibration pits and an area of the self-occlusion surface that does not include a calibration pit. 
     
     
       21. The computer system of  claim 20 , wherein the calibration data is computationally expanded to include data associated with one or more pits that are not established in the sample of the material. 
     
     
       22. The computer system of  claim 14 , wherein each pit in the plurality of pits does not intersect any other pit in the plurality of pits. 
     
     
       23. The computer system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of pits is distributed across the self-occlusion surface in a non-uniform pattern. 
     
     
       24. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computer system to generate a preview of a self-occlusion surface from an image, by performing the steps of:
 receiving the image; 
 receiving a selection of a material with which to construct the self-occlusion surface; 
 receiving calibration data associated with the material; 
 determining, based on the image and calibration data, a plurality of pits to define within the self-occlusion surface to visually represent the image, wherein each pit in the plurality of pits is associated with a placement and depth; and 
 based on the determined plurality of pits, rendering the preview of the self-occlusion surface including the plurality of pits defined in the material. 
 
     
     
       25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the steps further include fabricating the self-occlusion surface based on the preview which is rendered and using a physical material corresponding to the selected material. 
     
     
       26. An apparatus configured to manufacture a self-occlusion surface, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive input data that is generated by performing the steps of:
 receiving a selection of a material with which to construct the self-occlusion surface; 
 receiving calibration data associated with the material; 
 determining, based on an image and calibration data, a plurality of pits to define within the self-occlusion surface to visually represent the image, wherein each pit in the plurality of pits is associated with a placement and depth; and 
 based on the determined plurality of pits, rendering a preview of the self-occlusion surface including the plurality of pits defined in the material; and 
 
 cause the self-occlusion surface to be manufactured based on the set of input data.